Jon Michaelsen's Blog: Ramblings, Excerpts, WIPs, etc.
May 28, 2012
http://mmromancereviewer.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/false-evidence/
Review written by Graham at M/M Romance Reviews:
“Once in a while, I stumble upon a book so wonderful, so expertly written and so engrossing that it reinforces my faith in the entire genre. This is one such book and I absolutely loved it. Anyone who hasn’t yet read this amazing novel is really missing out on a book that truly represents the best in gay fiction. The author expertly portrays the needs and longings of a lonely gay man who becomes intrigued by a beautiful stranger. Oh how I could relate to Kevin’s infatuation, which quickly spiraled into obsession. The way Kevin starts to schedule his life around the chance of seeing the object of his affection is so very touching, but terrifying in the fact that many readers will be able to relate to such actions, and see within themselves how easy it is to lose control of one’s senses in an attempt to feed one’s addiction. Tony is very much Kevin’s addiction, and I could certainly relate to how easy it is to become obsessed with someone we don’t even know. But this is so much more than a tale of sexual longing and obsession, with twists, shocks and surprises galore. It is a superb psychological thriller, without being too dark. The plot is original and very well written. The characters are believable and the projection of Kevin’s emotions simply fly off the pages. This is obviously the first in a series, and the ending leaves you craving for more. I cannot wait for the sequel.”
May 27, 2012
Rick rated it
“Interesting foray into the obsessive mind, which is right up my nightmare alley. The only thing about it I didn’t like is that it ends on a cliffhanger with the dreaded “to be continued” as its final words. I will definitely be picking up the sequel, but not a fan of coitus interruptus, as it were. Still…highly recommended.”
May 26, 2012
First You Fall by Scott Sherman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Finally finished this book after it’s been on my self for awhile; not sure why I began reading the story last year and stopped (got distracted and one thing led to another, and you get the idea) - BUT, that being said, I really enjoyed this first novel from Scott Sherman.
Kevin - call boy/male prostitute is our reluctant sleuth. Kevin Connor, or Kevvy, according to the closeted (hot!) cop, who was also Kevvy’s former first-love. Kevin has AADD, and at times, creates a source of comedy. He’s always reminding himself to “focus, Kevin, focus!”
Problem is, Kevin really cared for a client of his who tossed himself off a balcony - or so it would seem, but Kevin doesn’t believe his friend would take his own life. Enter a bevy of characters, both large and small, who make this novel shine and a riot at times.
I liked the mystery - and yes, I figured out who the killer was before the ending, but that didn’t detract from my joy of the novel. The ending seemed a little rushed since many facts came together at once, but the pull and tug of Kevin’s on again-off again relationship with the hunky detective drove this novel and assures there’s more to come. I’m looking forward to the next chapter, er, novel, from Mr. Sherman.
View all my reviews
May 25, 2012
False Evidence
All Romance Ebooks - Best Sellers List!
#16 - Gay Mystery
#21 - Thriller Romance
I’m currently reading the The Touch Of The Sea edited by Steve Berman with authors Joel Lane and Jeff Mann, Nathan Bourgeoine, Chaz Brenchley, and Alex Jeffers, Brandon Cracraft, Jonathan Harper, John Howard, Vincent Kovar, Matthew A. Merendo, Damon Shaw.
The stories is this anthology strike a romantic cord with me and each is proving unique and quite enjoyable. My current WIP is about a young man living in L.A. with his partner of ten years, when an innate yearning lures him to return to his boyhood home by the sea in Tybee Island, Georgia, where he will meet up again with his mysterious, alluring, childhood friend, Lucius.
Stay tuned!
May 21, 2012
FIVE STARS!
Author, Ryan Field, has written a reivew of my latest release, False Evidence, for Amazon.com and Goodreads:
I had a chance to read “Murder Most Deadly 1: False Evidence,” by m/m fiction author, Jon Michaelsen, last week. It’s a m/m romance novella, with a mystery/suspense theme that revolves around the main character’s infatuation with an extremely attractive young man who lives in an adjacent building. The book is set in Atlanta, where some of my favorite books of all time have been set (”Peachtree Road” by Anne Rivers Siddens).
I hate to write reviews like this because I’m always worried I’ll give out a spoiler, and with a book like this, almost anything I say could ruin something for the reader. So I’ll try to keep it short and ambiguous, and focus more on how I felt while I as reading the book.
When I started reading, I obviously expected a murder mystery. But it’s a little tricky at first, because there’s an interesting set up that involves a little harmless voyeurism, a hot young guy, and a decent young guy who seems lonely. In fact, the lonely guy almost seems to have self-esteem issues. But only he feels this way. I felt that he underestimated himself in more ways than one. And I immediately started to cheer him on as the book progressed. I like this in any book, where I start to feel emotionally invested in the character. I wanted to see him change.
And he did change. In more ways than I expected. There are some erotic scenes that are handled very well. Nothing that I would consider over-the-top, but in the same respect they were arousing…both emotionally and physically. I’ve been let down before, but not this time. And this is why I wound up reading the book in one sitting when I should have been doing something else.
Another reason I wound up reading it in full that night was because there was a ring of reality I don’t see often enough. I have known characters like this in real life, where they get involved with someone thinking it’s all going to be innocent and it winds up becoming something they never expected. I honestly can’t say anything more than this because I would ruin the book for other people. But this shit happens to gay guys all the time. In fact, it almost happened to me once. And though I wish I could explain in more detail, it wouldn’t be fair.
In the end, just when I started to feel there was no hope left, something interesting happened that made me feel so much better. No details because that would ruin the ending. But I will say that I’m looking forward to the sequel to find out what happens. The main character is someone I won’t forget, nor will I forget his complicated situation. And that doesn’t happen often to me.
May 20, 2012
I had a chance to read "Murder Most Deadly 1: False Evidence," by m/m fiction author, Jon Michaelsen, last week. It's a m/m romance novella, with a mystery/suspense theme that revolves around the main character's infatuation with an extremely attractive young man who lives in an adjacent building. The book is set in Atlanta, where some of my favorite books of all time have been set ("Peachtree Road" by Anne Rivers Siddens).
I hate to write reviews like this because I'm always worried I'll give out a spoiler, and with a book like this, almost anything I say could ruin something for the reader. So I'll try to keep it short and ambiguous, and focus more on how I felt while I as reading the book.
When I started reading, I obviously expected a murder mystery. But it's a little tricky at first, because there's an interesting set up that involves a little harmless voyeurism, a hot young guy, and a decent young guy who seems lonely. In fact, the lonely guy almost seems to have self-esteem issues. But only he feels this way. I felt that he underestimated himself in more ways than one. And I immediately started to cheer him on as the book progressed. I like this in any book, where I start to feel emotionally invested in the character. I wanted to see him change.
And he did change. In more ways than I expected. There are some erotic scenes that are handled very well. Nothing that I would consider over-the-top, but in the same respect they were arousing...both emotionally and physically. I've been let down before, but not this time. And this is why I wound up reading the book in one sitting when I should have been doing something else.
Another reason I wound up reading it in full that night was because there was a ring of reality I don't see often enough. I have known characters like this in real life, where they get involved with someone thinking it's all going to be innocent and it winds up becoming something they never expected. I honestly can't say anything more than this because I would ruin the book for other people. But this shit happens to gay guys all the time. In fact, it almost happened to me once. And though I wish I could explain in more detail, it wouldn't be fair.
In the end, just when I started to feel there was no hope left, something interesting happened that made me feel so much better. No details because that would ruin the ending. But I will say that I'm looking forward to the sequel to find out what happens. The main character is someone I won't forget, nor will I forget his complicated situation. And that doesn't happen often to me.
Check out Ryan's blog here:
http://ryan-field.blogspot.com/
May 18, 2012
Amos Lassen
Romance and MysteryAmos Lassen
One of the things I love about reviewing is meeting new propel even if only by their writing. Jon Michaelsen was kind enough to make a comment on a review I did of Lambda Award winner, David Lennon so I decided to find out more about him and sure enough, he is also a writer and has a new book coming out (which is the subject of this review). When you read as much as I do, it is always fun to read something from someone that you never have read before.
“False Evidence: Murder Most Deadly 1” is interesting in that it is both a romance and a mystery and Michaelsen has created a fascinating character in Kevin Mitchell, an accountant who is bored with his job. He dreams about and lusts after Tony, who lives in the building next to his and before Kevin realizes it, he is obsessed with him. Then Tony surprises Kevin by coming to his apartment, bruised and bloody. Kevin helps him and shows him to his bed. However, (there is always a “however”), something is strange and when the police arrive we learn that all is not what it appears to be. The police are searching for a violent murderer and here is where I have to be careful not to give anything away.
To read more: http://reviewsbyamoslassen.com/?p=16264
May 14, 2012
I had a chance to read "Murder Most Deadly 1: False Evidence," False Evidence by m/m fiction author, Jon Michaelsen, last week. It's a m/m romance novella, with a mystery/suspense theme that revolves around the main character's infatuation with an extremely attractive young man who lives in an adjacent building. The book is set in Atlanta, where some of my favorite books of all time have been set ("Peachtree Road" by Anne Rivers Siddens).
I hate to write reviews like this because I'm always worried I'll give out a spoiler, and with a book like this, almost anything I say could ruin something for the reader. So I'll try to keep it short and ambiguous, and focus more on how I felt while I as reading the book.
When I started reading, I obviously expected a murder mystery. But it's a little tricky at first, because there's an interesting set up that involves a little harmless voyeurism, a hot young guy, and a decent young guy who seems lonely. In fact, the lonely guy almost seems to have self-esteem issues. But only he feels this way. I felt that he underestimated himself in more ways than one. And I immediately started to cheer him on as the book progressed. I like this in any book, where I start to feel emotionally invested in the character. I wanted to see him change.
And he did change. In more ways than I expected. There are some erotic scenes that are handled very well. Nothing that I would consider over-the-top, but in the same respect they were arousing...both emotionally and physically. I've been let down before, but not this time. And this is why I wound up reading the book in one sitting when I should have been doing something else.
Another reason I wound up reading it in full that night was because there was a ring of reality I don't see often enough. I have known characters like this in real life, where they get involved with someone thinking it's all going to be innocent and it winds up becoming something they never expected. I honestly can't say anything more than this because I would ruin the book for other people. But this shit happens to gay guys all the time. In fact, it almost happened to me once. And though I wish I could explain in more detail, it wouldn't be fair.
In the end, just when I started to feel there was no hope left, something interesting happened that made me feel so much better. No details because that would ruin the ending. But I will say that I'm looking forward to the sequel to find out what happens. The main character is someone I won't forget, nor will I forget his complicated situation. And that doesn't happen often to me.
False Evidence
May 13, 2012
Within the week, Kevin had purchased a camera and tripod. Five days later, he added a telephoto lens and other items. Before long, he’d amassed a stellar collection of photographs capturing the imagines of an abstracted, young man in his prime and oblivious to the attention he’d reaped from a neighboring high-rise.
The quest for satisfaction consumed Kevin, he all but ignored his responsibilities at work and at home.
His actions became irresponsible, even voyeuristic, and ignited desires that he didn’t know he possessed. His boss expressed dissatisfaction with his tardiness and increasing mistakes, but he made excuses for his lack of focus. Friends calling his home found nothing but an answer machine and returned calls never happened. He even gave Alice the cold shoulder when she voiced concern, but Kevin didn’t care. He slipped deeper and deeper into a compulsion he didn’t see, convinced all the while he could stop the spying on his neighbor at any time.
* * * *
By early May, Kevin had settled into a routine of spying on the man of his dreams, laying out a daily ritual of surveillance that played against a backdrop of reality. He knew when to catch the guy working out with free-weights in his bedroom, sunbathing on the terrace, or even when the dude might pass before the windows after taking a shower.
So it came as somewhat of a shock when the blinds across the street began opening and closing at irregular intervals and the lights in the apartment burned well into the evening hours two nights in a row. Mr. Adonis roamed freely throughout the penthouse, more frequently without a stitch of clothing on his body. Kevin surmised the man’s companion had gone away for a while on a business trip, or perhaps to visit relatives.
Whatever the case, the idea and new-found impudence to introduce himself to the young man prevailed and Kevin took time off work. He cleaned his home from top to bottom and stowed the camera equipment away. He spent the next few days sunning on the terrace, hoping to catch the guy’s attention, moving the floral canopy out of the way to create a clear view. Kevin’s body was lean and tight, but not as muscular as he was tall. More endowed than most, he filled the tiny swimsuit he sported in hopes of catching the stranger’s attention.
On the third day, Kevin finally received the acknowledgement from the man he’d hoped for. A subtle nod, soon led to a flirtatious smile and movement of the man’s mouth, unable to hear his words Kevin smiled and raised his hands palms skyward. The guy pointed down toward the street, an invitation that Kevin accepted with an upright thumb...
Ramblings, Excerpts, WIPs, etc.
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